New Year, New You – Dream Big In 2016!

As the new year approaches, one of the top things that people start to think about is their New Year’s resolutions. A lot of these New Year’s resolutions are centered around weight loss, exercising, eating better, and overall health concerns. People get super excited about figuring out what their New Year’s resolution will be, planning for it, and then January 1, putting that plan into action.

Sounds great, right? New year, new you!

As you may or may not know, I am all for encouraging YOU to be the best YOU possible. BUT…I am going to challenge you. I want to challenge you to make only one resolution this year, and that is not to make any resolutions at all.

The word “resolution” is defined as a firm decision to do or not do something. Instead of a resolution, I want you to focus not on the action of not doing something, but on setting goals that you can aim for, plan for, and achieve. The word “goal” is defined as the object of a person’s ambition or effort; an aim or desired result. This new year, instead of focusing on what you won’t do, you are going to make a list of your goals, and then create an action plan to make those goals a reality.

So, how do you go about setting goals for the new year and making sure you don’t abandon those goals?

The first thing I want you to think about is your priorities in life. Make sure that whatever goals you set and put in place line up with your priorities. Then, start thinking about what categories you want to set goals in. Create a financial goal, a health goal, a family and relationship goal, etc. This way you are improving many areas of your life, not just one. But be sure to create a realistic number of goals. You want your goals to push you and stretch you, but by the same token, you don’t want to create so many goals that they are impossible to attain.

Once you have created a list of goals you want to accomplish in 2016, the next step is to create an action plan to ensure that these goals don’t just become words on paper. I highly recommend sharing your goals with someone who can hold you accountable, like a spouse, a colleague, or a friend. Don’t laugh, but we all know a great way to keep yourself accountable is on social media, so don’t be scared to share your list on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter or whatever sites you are on, so that your social family can check in on you and your goals and keep you accountable.

Write your goals out somewhere visible where you can see them. You can put them in a note on your phone, post them on your refrigerator, or make your list the screensaver on your computer. This will be a daily reminder of what you are working toward. And as you reach certain goals throughout the year, be sure to celebrate your success and reward your hard work and effort. Sticking to goals and achieving them is something to be proud of.

Did you know that 45 percent of people make New Year’s resolutions each year, and of those, only 8 percent actually stick to them? Don’t let that be you. That is why for 2016 you are going to set goals, create a plan for those goals, and then spend the year striving to achieve them. And when you do, I cannot wait to celebrate with you.

I TRUST AND BELIEVE in who you are, and therefore, I know that you can dream big in 2016 and make it the best year ever.